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FOLLOWING MONEY IN 2016 PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

The anti-ultralight drug smuggling bill sponsored by now-retired Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-CD8) - and co-sponsored by Rep. Jeff Flake (R-CD6) - that received a tremendous amount of attention last week when it was Giffords' last official act in Congressis now sitting in the White House awaiting the President's signature.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Andrew Hurwitz, the Vice Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court, acquitted himself flawlessly this afternoon before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. Barring the highly unlikely prospect(?) of politics holding up this and other judicial nominations, there should be no significant opposition.

Arizona Senator Jon Kyl was the Republican Senator at the hearing (Dick Durbin handled the hearing for the Democrats), so he not only introduced Hurwitz as the home state Senator, but got to ask the "tough questions".

Since Hurwitz has worked for the past three Arizona Democratic governors, Kyl very carefully noted that he feels that Hurwitz is going to be a judge on the appellate Circuit which is most maligned by Republicans who is NOT going to augment that perception:

"Mr. Chairman, I would say that Mr. Hurwitz does not have a reputation as an activist judge. And, to my way of thinking has been quite successful at separating political views from the job at hand - namely, deciding cases." (about 44:00 mark)

Kyl then asked a couple of gentle questions to allow Hurwitz to affirm the opinion that he would use a "judicious conservative approach to decision making."

Senator Durbin then asked Hurwitz to talk about some of the significant cases he's been involved in, as either an attorney or as Supreme Court Justice. Hurwitz discussed the cases of Ring v. Arizona (536 U.S. 584), Arizona v. Gant (556 U.S. 332), and Citizen Publishing Company v. Miller (Elleithee) (No. CV-04-0280-PR). (A few interesting comments in there for legal-minded folks.)

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At 12:15pm (Arizona Time) this afternoon, the Senate Judiciary Committee will take its opportunity to hear from Arizona Supreme Court's current Vice Chief Justice Andrew Hurwitz, who has been nominated by President Barack Obama for a seat on the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

Outgoing Arizona Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) is on the committee and will likely be present.

Hurwitz was nominated to fill one of the vacancies in the busy circuit this past November. He has been on the Arizona Supreme Court since 2003, clerked for judges at every level of the federal courts in the early 1970's, spent many years in private practice and also provided legal counsel to Arizona's three most recent Democratic governors.

We welcome your comments about this post. Or, if you have something unrelated on your mind, please e-mail to info-at-arizonaspolitics-dot-com, or call at 602-799-7025. Thanks.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer (Repub.) had a tense exchange with President Barack Obama this afternoon out at Gateway Airport in Mesa. Here is a link to the pool reporter's account after speaking with the Governor.

Looks like Scorpions For Breakfast may have given the President some indigestion.

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The bill sponsored by now-retired Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-CD8) and co-sponsored by Rep. Jeff Flake (R-CD6), which unanimously passed the House of Representatives this morning as part of Giffords' resignation ceremony, now heads over to the U.S. Senate, where Arizona Senator Jon Kyl expects quick action.

The bill there is sponsored by New Mexico Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), and has been stuck in the Finance Committee since this past August.

Arizona's Politics asked Arizona's two Senators whether they would now take up the baton from the House and push for passage of the bill on the Senate side.

Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) happens to sit on the Finance Committee. Ryan Patmintra, his spokesman, replied: "I’m not sure if it’s a matter of taking it, but we will support it and expect it to be swiftly approved by the Senate."

Udall issued this Tweet earlier today: .@GabbyGiffords I'm making sure we're ready to pass this bill and send it to the President.

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President Barack Obama's Try-To-Capitalize-On-the-State of the Union campaign stop in Chandler this afternoon has got the national media taking notice of the political statement being made. Here is an opinion column from Ruth Marcus in yesterday's Washington Post.

She quotes the President's campaign manager, Jim Messina (full disclosure: I always liked him more than Loggins) as saying that "We don’t say we’re definitely going to get Arizona to turn blue, but we’re going to take a long and hard look at it.”

The rest of the column is interesting, though nothing that should come as a surprise anyone who knows anything about Arizona politics.

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Appropriately flanked by a Democrat (Debbie Wasserman Schultz) and a Republican (David Schweikert), Gabrielle Giffords (Dem.-CD8) was lauded by the House's leaders on both sides of the aisle as her resignation was accepted and her final border security bill passed the House.

The link below will take you to the C-Span coverage of the last hour or so before her resignation. Rep. Wasserman Schultz reads the letter accompanying her official resignation to Arizona Governor Jan Brewer at the 50 minute mark. It follows speeches by Nancy Pelosi, Eric Cantor and Steny Hoyer. As it is read, Giffords holds the hand of Jeff Flake, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate. The rest of the Arizona delegation surrounds her. Wasserman Schultz and Giffords Chief of Staff Pia Carusone then help Giffords deliver the letter to House Speaker John Boehner (who, true to form, also has to wipe away tears).

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

It was less than 8 months ago that we last wrote about Arizona Congressman Trent Franks (R-CD2)starting a caucus and testifying about his bill to address natural and terrorist threats to our power infrastructure. (The SHIELD Act: http://1.usa.gov/xUbigJ)

With the Earth being buffeted today by one of the largest solar storms in years (http://bit.ly/wSpQAf), it may be time to revisit that story, as well as Franks' video.

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